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May 2008

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Bruce Arians downplays return to Pittsburgh

Posted by Josh Alper on October 15, 2015, 8:31 AM EDT

Cardinals coach Bruce Arians spent five years as the offensive coordinator of the Steelers before parting ways with the team after the 2011 season in a move that the Steelers framed as Arians’s retirement.

It wasn’t a retirement, obviously. Arians went to the Colts for a year as offensive coordinator, became the interim head coach when Chuck Pagano was battling cancer and parleyed that into his current job. Arians has gone 25-11 with the Cardinals, proving that he had plenty left in the tank after being let go in Pittsburgh.

Arians will lead the Cardinals into Heinz Field on Sunday for his first regular season game against the Steelers since being dispatched, but says it is “just another game” rather than a chance to score a win with extra personal satisfaction.

“He’s so focused on this team and this year and not years past,” Cardinals quarterback Carson Palmer said, via the Arizona Republic. “Obviously, going back to a place where you worked before, there is a little extra on it. But his focus is so on this team, getting to 5-1, where we’re at in our division, where we need to improve and things that need to be fixed and coached. I don’t think he has time to dwell on the past and all the great things he did in Pittsburgh.”

Steelers wide receiver Antonio Brown isn’t so sure that it’s just business as usual for Arians “seeing how many people counted him out and wanted him out of here.” It wouldn’t be surprising if that’s the case, although there’s no lack of other motivation for the Cardinals to pick up another win this Sunday.